“Please, you like them older,” Amelia shot back, a flirt to her tone that shocked me. I’d seen Theo and Charles relaxed before, but Amelia was the most businesslike out of the three. It seemed that this was the place she let her hair down.
“Then you’ll love me,” Jaffar commented dryly. “Long life’s one of the many perks.”
“I’d love some pizza if it would hurry up and arrive already.” Charles leaned back in his chair and patted his stomach.
“Missing Theo?” I asked.
His lips twisted in a wry grin. “He always makes sure I’m well fed.”
Gretel rolled her eyes. “No one wants to hear about your sexcapades, Charles.”
“I’d rather hear about yours, Gretel,” Ursuline teased, their voice low and alluring. “Guaranteed Sofia’s a wildcat in the bedroom.”
“Wouldn’t you like to know.” Gretel’s smirk said everything.
“Chances are, we’d be incompatible,” Ursuline responded, their full lips twitching. Based on their firm tone and the suggestion there, I had a feeling the cecaelia had a dominant streak. Like a certain demon I knew. I sucked in a sharp breath at the memory of how he’d kissed me until I melted. What would he do when he got his hands on me? Fuck, the idea made my whole body immolate.
The fantasies that had haunted me last night were lurid and demanding, and I’d barely been able to sleep, my cock hard and dripping, and my balls desperate for release. My being vibrated with the need to be around him, yet he was gone.
Risking his neck for gods knew what reason.
My stomach flipped. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to eat much tonight.
“How good at Sparks are you?” Charles asked, leaning in.
A grin lifted my lips. Thank fuck for distraction. “I’m terrible. In fact, I need a complete refresher.”
“Oh, perfect,” Gretel said, her eyes meeting mine. For some reason, seeing her here calmed a part of my soul. Maybe because she was someone I’d met outside of here, a reminder of my former life before I’d entered the Spires. Or maybe because the air of sharpness around her reminded me of myself in a way. Prickly, like a thorn. It was a foundation block of my personality.
“Okay, okay,” Charles said as he brought a stack of cards and the multi-hued glass pebbles over. “I’ll update you on how to play, and then you can kick everyone’s asses. Except for mine, of course.”
“I’m in.”
***
To my surprise, Sparks wasn’t as difficult as I’d built it up to be in my head. Maybe because the last time I’d played had been as a child, but the strategy made sense now, and I lost myself in the patterns and playing against the talented people at the table. Amelia hadn’t been bragging for nothing—she excelled at this game. However, so did Gretel and Ursuline. Jaffar and Charles seemed to be having a bad night, or they just weren’t good players. I couldn’t quite gauge yet.
The pizza, beer, and camaraderie made the time pass faster than I’d realized. I hadn’t looked at my phone or the door in a while, even though an ever-present tug remained in the back of my mind.
After being devoid of companionship for so long, far earlier than when I’d come here, this sort of gathering should’ve been tougher. And yet, I felt comfortable here in a way I didn’t amid the bars and coffee shops of Peregrine City. It helped that the company was better than I could’ve chosen myself. Ursuline was sharp and witty, often exchanging barbs with Amelia, and Jaffar had a dry sense of humor that I appreciated as well, a good counterbalance to Charles. An understanding flowed between Gretel and me, but whether it was due to a shared prickliness or not, I wasn’t sure.
“Damn, we should probably clear up the game,” Amelia said, stretching her arms over her head. “Tomorrow morning’s going to come early.”
My stomach churned as I glanced at the door again. Still no Cillian.
“Not all of us are ancient, Lia,” Charles teased.
Amelia took another sip from her beer, not dignifying him with a response.
“I should be getting back to Sofia,” Gretel said, rising from her seat. “She’s a harsh mistress.”
“Just the way you like it,” Ursuline teased, their voice low and seductive.
Gretel smirked. “Don’t be jealous.”
“I’m jealous,” Charles complained. “My boyfriend’s still out there, dangling his pretty werewolf ass in front of trouble.”
My heart thumped hard at Charles stating the words aloud. Because I’d felt Cillian’s absence acutely all day.
